Hector p



H. P. MACLAGAN.

DENTAL FILM HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.21.1918.

1,321,465. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

INVENTOR Hector P. MucLag aw AT TORN EY UNITED STATES IPATErrr oEEicE.

HECTOR P. MACLAGAN, 0F PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MGINTOSH BATTERY AND OPTICAL CO., 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DENTAL FILM-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application led September 21, 1918. Serial No. 255,211.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HECTOR P. MAoLA- GAN, a citizen of the" United States, residing kat Park Ridge, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventeda certain -neW and useful Improvement in Dental F ilm-Holders, of which the followingis a specification.

Y pieceof Celluloid base upon which a coating or emulsion sensitive to light is placed. The film thus prepared is Wrapped in several thicknesses of light proof paper and in this condition is handled by the patient in the manner described. As a result it frequently happens that the' film is not properly held and in addition the method of handling is awkward and unpleasant. It is the object of my invention to provide a holder for film packages ofthe kind referred to which not only holds the film but also affordsa guide or support so that the film may be ypositioned and held by resting the holder against the teeth. My improved holder is provided with a handle which projects from the mouth of the patient and aHords a convenient means for positively holding the film in proper position with no unpleasant accompaniments.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof, in which- Figure l shows in plan view the combined handle and clamp forming part of the holder,

Fig. 2 is a side View of a backing plate for use with the clamp to hold thek film package,

Fig. 3 is a top edge view of the backing plate shown in Fig. 2,

modified form of backing plate for holding the film package with its longer dimension extending away from the clamp instead of parallel with the clamp as is the case with the backing plate shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a side view of a film package commonly employed for dental work,

Fig. 6 is a side view of a backing plate and film` package assembled in the clamp ready for use, and

' Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the partsshown in Fig. 6 taken along the line'-7.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Fig. l the clamp consists of a bar of spring metal, such as steel, bent at its mid-point to form two parallel handle members 10, separated from each other a Ysufficient distance to permit the ready insertion between said members of the backing plate and film package. Continuing from the handle members the end portions of the bar are brought closer together to form the clamping members 10b. The inner ends of the clamping members are separated slightly while their outer ends are held firmly in contact with each other by the spring action of the bar. As a result, the backing plate and film package may be freely inserted together between the members 10a and then slid between the members l()b toward their outer ends, for which relation the clamping edges of the members l()b are parallel with each other and firmly hold the backing plate and Hlm package along one entire edge of said plate and package so that they cannot be' readily'displaced from proper position in the clamp while the holder is being used. A pin 11 is secured in the end of one of the consists of a rectangular piece of sheet metal, as aluminum, somewhat longer than it is wide and provided with flanges 14e eX tending in opposite directions along one ofl the longer edges of said plate. The backing plate 15, shown in Fig. et, is similar to the plate 13 the only difference being that it has flanges 1G projecting from one of its shorter edges instead of its longer edges as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 shows in edge view, the manner in which the flanges 14 are arranged on the plate 13.

Fig. shows` a film packageof the kind ordinarily employed in dental work which consists oi a small piece of sensitized sheet Celluloid 17 around which several thicknesses of paper 18 opaque to ordinary light rays are folded so that the paper covering is retained in the position indicated.

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner of placing the backing plate and lilm package in the clamp for use in the mouth of the patient. rIhe relation of the parts is shown more clearly in enlarged sectional view in Fig. 7. In this condition the patient grasps the handle of the holder and holds the backing` plate and film package in his mouth in the position directed by the operator, with the backing plate, which may be shaped to the mouth if desired, away from the tissues of' the mouth and one of the clamping members rest-ing against the ends of the teeth, which greatly facilitates holding thev device in its proper position. The X-rays em* ployed readily pass through the paper of the iilln package and make the desired impression on the sensitive film. My holder thus provides a convenient means for holding the film in the mouth of the patient and danger of displacing the film from its proper position is reduced to a minimum. Either the backing plate 13 or l5 is employed depending upon the position it is necessary to give the film to make the desired exposure.

lhile I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, I do not however limit myself to this particular construction in carrying out my invention, as I may employ any equivalents thereof known to the art at the time of the filing of this application without departing from the scope ot' the appended claims.

IVhat I claim is 1. In a dental iilm holder, the combination of a metal bar bent to form substantially parallel handle portions with a clearance opening between them and continued to form substantially parallel clamping members, the spring of said bar tending to hold said members tightly together, and a backing plate for a film package for insertion between said members to hold said package.

2. In a dent-al film holder, the combination of a metal bar bent to form substantially parallel handle portions with a clearance opening between them and continued to form substantially parallel clamping members, the spring of said bar tending to hold said members tightly together, a backing plate for a film package for insertion between said members to hold said package, and a pin carried by the end of one of said members and passing through a clearance hole therefor in the end of the other of' said members to maintain said members in clamping relation and limit the outward movement of said plate.

3. In a dental Film holder, the combination of a metal bar bent to form substair tially parallel handle portions with a clearance opening between them and continued to form substantially parallel clamping members, the spring of said bar tending to hold said members tightly together, and a backing plate for a film package for insertion between said members to hold said package, said plate having flanges on one oi its edges to facilitate locating said plate between said members.

4E. In a dental film holder, the combination of a met-al bar bent to form substantially parallel handle portions with a clearance opening between them and continued to form substantially parallel clamping mem-- bers, the spring Aof said bar tending to hold said members tightly together, a backing plate for a film package for insertion between said members to hold said package, said plate having anges on one of its edges to facilitate locating said plate. between said members, and a pin carried by the end of one of said members and passing through a clearance hole theretor in the end of the other of said members to maintain said members in clamping relation and limit the out ward movement of said plate.

5. In a dental film holder, a clamp comprising a metal bar bent to form substantially parallel handle portions with a clearance opening between them and continued to form substantially parallel clamping members, said bar being of spring material tending to hold said members tightly together, and said clearance opening being for the reception of a film package to facilitate inserting said package between .said members.

6. In a dental film holder, a clamp comprising a metal bar bent to form substantially parallel handle portions with a clearance opening between them and continued to form substantially parallel clamping members, said bar being of spring` material tending to hold said members together, and said clearance opening being for the reception of a film package to facilitate inserting said package between said members, and a pin carried by the end of one of said members and extending through a clearance hole therefor in the end of the other of said members to maintain said members in prising a metal bar having a handle portion clamping relation. and bent to form clamping members for 10 7 In a dental film holder, the combinaholding a film package between them. tion of a single element forming a handle In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 5 and clamping members, and a backing plate my name this 16th day of September, A. D.

for insertion between said members to sup- 1918. port a lm package.

8. In a dental film holder, a clamp com- HECTOR P. MACLAGAN.

Gopies ot this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washingtom 1b. (2. 

